Electrical connecter and terminal block



1,6 ,3 2 July 12, 1927. F'DlEHL 35 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTEH AND TERMINAL BLOCK Filed May 1921 I rfxbxs |NVENT OR 37M m0 ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1927.

UNI ED", s'r A ir s FREDERICK'DIEHL, 0E ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORpTO THE SINGER MANU- FACT'URING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, .aoonrona'rroiv OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER AND BLOCK.

Application'filed May 18, 1921. Serial No. 470,751.

This-invention relates to electrical connecters, more-particularly of the plug and detachable socket type, andhas for an object'to provide a connecter in the form of a terminal ordi-stributing bloc-k adapted to be rigidly securedto a suitable support and embodying. provision: whereby the socket member may be applied to the plug member in' tvvoor more different directions to meet thej'reqni'rements of the particular: installa-v tion in which the block is used. I

Another:- object of the; invention is to pro vide tor the r-convenient interconnection of a plurality of separate circuits-within the Still further, the-invention has; for an object to provide a termina-l1block and; plug eonnecter particularly. adapted for use with power and-lighting circuits in installations on small electrically. operated'machines, such as-sewingmachines. In some installations it is desirableto applythe socketmemberhorizontally. and-in others vertically and it is an objectot-the invention to provide a terminal:block and plug connector whichis readily convertiblewt'o accommodate a socket member when applied ;in either direction;

To the attainments of the ends in viewthe terminal block, which is preferably of the bipolar type, comprises aninsulating housing constructed preferably with base; and cover members I having screw holes. whereby the-base member may beoattacheditothe mas chine or other support andthe cover member firmly secured in-pl'ace over the base member. 1 t

The housingv ispreferafbly; formed internallywith; seats for-the 4 respective plug members which project: externally of the housing througlriapertures in communica-- tion, respectively, with saidseat's; A feature ofthe present improvement is the pro,- vision of additionaLapertu-res in the housing -;eXtending at an; angle to the, first. mentioned apertures :and in communication, respectively, with said seats, wherebyterminal plugs. adapted to project exteriorly o-tlsaid housing through either of saidsets ot apertures :maybe secured to saidseatsi The plug connecter may thus-bev readily. converted fromone vform to another solas to 'receiveta,

socket ;member.applied, say, either vertically or horiz'ontally-.

,Another feature of the invention is the provision for interconnection of the various electrical circuitsand their connection with the source of electrical energy. To this end the meeting faces of the base and cover members of the insulating housing are formed with a series of mating grooves, in one of which is disposedaconnecter plate for the series connection of two circuits lead-.

mg, respectively, from the main plug terminals, These grooves-1 also accommodate one ormorecircuits to be connected in mul-. tiple to the main plug terminals.

In the accompanyingv drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of-aplug connecter mem= ber embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe complemental socket member. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the plug andsocket members as applied to theframe of an electrically equipped sewing machine such, for instance as that disclosed inapplication otfMartin Hemleb,Seri'al ilo-167,835 filed May 9, 1921. Fig. t is an end viewv of the socket member. Fig. 5 is an inner face-view of the base memberotthe plug connector. Fig. 6 is an inner face View of :the complemental cover member. Fig.7 is a back face view .otthe base .memberx' 1 Figs 8 and. 9 are, respectively,

viewsot the meeting faces of the halves of thefsocket member.- Fig. 10 is anupper end view of the plug member. I Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the plug member. Fig. 12. is a disassembled. perspective of one ofthe main terminals of the plug member in its preterrediform and Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views of modified forms of plug members adapted to be used interchangeably with one anotherin lieu-.of'the form shown in Figs: 3, .5 andv 12; V

.In the preferred embodimentof the in- -vention.; as illustrated in Figs.- 1-to-12, in-

elusive, the plug.connecterzconsist-s of an in sulating. housing; preferably comprising abase member 1 "andcover member 2 the meet ing faces of which are provided with the relatively largeparallell longitudinally eX- tending complementalgrooves 3, e. respectively. -VVhe'ntheb-ase and cover members coincident with the plane defined by the meeting faces of the base and cover members.

Seated in the grooves 3 are the shank portions 5 of the main plug terminals which are held in place by the screws 6 and which are provided with the wire holding or terminal screws 7, 8. Each of the main plug terminals preferably comprises, in addition to the shank portion 5, a projecting plug portion 9 which is secured to the shank portion by means of the screw 10. The parts 5 and 9 of the plug members may be arranged in alinement, as shown in full lines, Figs. 3 and 5, in which event the plug members 9 will project downwardly from the insulating housing through the lower ends of the holes formed by the mating grooves 3, 4 in the base and cover sections and will be accessible to the usual socket member 11 applied vertically.

In some uses of the plug connecter it may be undersirable or inconvenient to apply the socket member 11 vertically, and to accommodate the application of the socket member from a different direction, the cover section 2 of the insulating housing is formed with lateral apertures 12 in axial intersecting relation with the holes formed by the mating grooves 3, 4. When desired, the main plug terminals may be converted from the straight to the angular type by turning the projecting plug portions 9 about the screws 10 so that they may project say, horizontally through the apertures 12, as shown in dotted line, Fig. 3; it being necessary in the embodiment illustrated to remove the cover section 2 prior to adjustment of the plug portions 9 from one position to the other.

In lieu of the convertible main plug terminals 5, 9, the interchangeable plug terminals shown in Figs. 13 and 14, may be employed; the straight type 13, comprising the alined shank and plug portions 5', 9, being used when the socket member 11 is to be applied vertically, and the angular type 14, when the member 11 is to be applied horizontally. In the angular type 14:, the shank and plug portions 5 and 9 may be firmly secured together by any suitable means or otherwise rigidly associated. I

The meeting faces of the base and cover sections 1, 2 are each further formedwith complementary semi-circular grooves 15, 16 and 17, which are adapted to receive the wires of the various circuits branching from the main terminals 5, 9. The uppermost groove 15 is enlarged to receive the connecter plate 1.8 fitted with the terminal screws 19. The wall 20 between the grooves 16 and 17 is cut away at two spaced points 21, 21 to facilitate the passage of one of the circuits, such as a li hting circuit, to the main terminal screws 3 7. The opposite ends of the groove 17 may be occupied,respectively, by

one wire of a motor circuit and one wire of a controller or rheostat circuit, the remaining or return wires of such circuits being passed into the groove 15 and connected to the terminal screws 19 on the connecter plate 18, thus effecting a series connection of the motor and controller circuits.

The rear face of the base section 2 may be formed with an X-shaped groove 20, Fig. 7, to receive the motor and lighting circuits and permit the pairing off of the companion wires of the respective circuits and the running of such circuits to different corners of the block for convenient distribution.

The socket member 11. is of the usual form comprising the half-sections 21 of insulating material similarly grooved in their meeting faces to receive the socket terminals 22 to which the current supply wires 23 are attached.

The plug -connecter described may be firmly secured to any suitable support, such as the frame 24 of a sewing machine or other electrically equipped device, by means of the screws 25, 26. The screw 25 passes through the base member 1, only, as shown in Fig. 3, and holds the latter in position on the frame 24 when the screws 26 and cover section 2, are removed.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. An electrical connecter comprising an insulating housing having a passageway adapted to receive a conductor, characterized by this that the housing is formed with distinct angularly related apertures communicating with said passageway, a suitable plug member being fitted to a selected one of said apertures and fixed within said housing, the other aperture being unoccupied. r

2. A plug connecter comprising an. insulating housing formed with an internal seat for a terminal plug, and an aperture in communication with said seat, said housing being formed with an additional aperture separate from and extending at an angle to said first mentioned aperture and in communication with said seat, whereby a terminal plug adapted to project exteriorly of said housing through either of said apertures, may be secured to said seat. a

3. A plug connecter comprising an insulating housing having separate angularly related apertures and. a plug terminal com prising two relatively shiftable sections one of which is mounted within saidhousing and the other of which is adapted to project'exteriorly thereof through one or the other of said apertures.

4. A plug connecter comprising an insulating housing having separate angularly related apertures and a plug terminal comprising hinged sections one of which is mounted within said housing and the other of which is adapted to project exteriorly of said housing through one or the other of said apertures.

5. A plug connecter comprising base and cover members, a terminal mounted between said members, and a plug member pivotally secured to said terminal, and shiftable from an operative position parallel to'the plane of the meeting faces of said members to another operative position transverseto said plane.

6. A plug connecter comprising base and cover members, a terminal mounted on said base member, and a plug member pivotally secured to said terminal, and shiftable from an operative position parallel to the plane of the meeting faces of said members to another operative position transverse to said plane, said cover member being formed with apertures through which said plug members may project when occupying said transverse position.

'4': A plug-connecter comprising an insulating housing includin a base, a conductor-Wire terminal securec in said housin and a plug electrically connected to said conductor-wire terminal within said housing and adjustable so as to project exteriorly of said housing in different directions while maintaining said electrical connection.

8. A combined plug connecter and distributing block comprising an insulating housing formed with base and cover sections and having a pair of main plug terminals secured therewithin and projecting exteriorly thereof, and a connecter plate secured within said housing in insulated relation to said plug terminals, the meeting faces of said base and cover sections being formed with wire-receiving grooves extending across the space between said connecter plate and plug terminals. V

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification.

FREDERICK DIEHL. 

